Worcester 3-decker fire displaces 14 residents

WORCESTER — A fire in the attic of a three-decker at 6 Loxwood St. Friday displaced 14 people, fire officials said. No one was injured.

District Fire Chief Frank D. DiLiddo III said firefighters were able to contain the blaze to the attic, where he said it started. He said the culprit appeared to be a central air unit.

It took firefighters about 20 minutes to bring the blaze under control, and while residents and others watching the fire said it was not visible from the street, the fire burned through the roof of the building.

Donald Courtney, who lives in the building next door, said he heard the initial call reporting the fire on the scanner and went over with a couple of other neighbors.

A retired firefighter, Mr. Courtney said they knocked on doors to make sure everyone had evacuated safely.

"The third floor occupant wasn't home. We made sure the lady on the second floor and the guy in the basement got out," he said. "You just want to make sure nobody's hurt."

He said firefighters were lucky there were no cars on the narrow, snow bank-lined street so fire engines could access the building, which is located on Vernon Hill near the former St. Vincent Hospital site.

The owner of the building, listed in city records as John A. Zaleski of Dudley, declined to comment. Emergency management officials were on scene to help the people who were displaced, including several young children.

Contact Alli Knothe at allison.knothe@telegram.com. Follow her on Twitter @KnotheA